Q in 1960 Big Band Documentary
We found a great clip of Quincy with his Big Band in 1960 that we wanted to share with you. The clip is from a documentary that features interviews from Clarence Avant, Patti Bown, Sidney Lumet and Gerald Early. It’s covering Q’s “Free & Easy” tour from early in his career. What started out as a “golden opportunity” turned into an experience that Quincy would never forget. Quincy jumped at the chance to play with a ‘dream team’ of big band musicians to create The Quincy Jones Big Band. The tour took them across a great deal of Europe-including London, Paris and Switzerland. Unfortunately, it was up to Quincy to keep the band and the whole tour afloat. While managing the entire trip, Quincy had to face the odds of increasing debt, his responsibility to his band mates, and handling the payroll. The Big Band made it back to the States in one piece, but Quincy came back with a debt of more than $300,000. Despite this, Quincy stayed the course and worked the debt off by working as A&R at Mercury Records. Within 1 year, Quincy would soon become the Vice President at Mercury Records and break Lesley Gore into the #1 spot in pop music charts. You can watch the Youtube clip below:
did this tour bring you to the state of Indiana by any chance? this might have set the stage for your meeting with Al Cobine, one of Indiana’s jazz legends, who passed away this week. services to be held next Wednesday, the 27th of May. if someone else reads this, i IMPLORE you to pass this sad information on to Mr Jones. I feel that he needs to know. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my father, Mike Lucas, at lucasj@indiana.edu. Dad worked with Al from Day One, and has a story about meeting Mr Jones at a c.1960 concert in which Mr Jones praised my father’s indisputable keyboard genius. All that aside, PLEASE, PLEASE, someone get this info on to Mr Jones. It is of the utmost importance to the musical community.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Lucas